The National Building Review Board (NBRB) has released preliminary findings on the Holy City Church building collapse in Bwerenga, Katabi Town Council. According to the Board, the building had no permit, no approved drawings, and serious structural flaws. The four-level extension ground floor plus three upper floors building was classified as a Class A building requiring the highest level of approval and professional supervision.
Preliminary inspections by the NBRB point to multiple failures, including poor workmanship and lack of supervision by a qualified professional. The Board found that no building permit or approved drawings were on site. The columns, beams, and floors were uneven and irregular in shape, suggesting poor workmanship. Additionally, no site safety measures were observed.
The building, an extension attached to the existing steel-frame church hall belonging to Brother Ronnie Makabai, collapsed on Monday evening, October 26, 2026. The structure, made of reinforced concrete, had been completed, and workers were carrying out final finishing works, including laying terrazzo floors, when it collapsed. The incident killed builder Francis Lukwago and injured 25 others.
The NBRB noted that some concrete beams measured up to 60 cm by 60 cm and stretched more than 6 metres without support. The steel bars inside the concrete floors were of different sizes and spaced unevenly, weakening the floor. The Board's findings indicate a high level of negligence in the construction process.
Police have announced an end to rescue operations at the site, although investigations are still ongoing. Assistant Superintendent Edith Eradukunda, the Entebbe Liaison Officer, confirmed that the operation ended on October 28, without recovering any additional bodies or survivors. Security teams remain heavily deployed, guarding the scene of the crime.
The 25 survivors are still receiving treatment at Kisubi Hospital and Entebbe Grade B Hospital. The Bwerenga incident is the latest in a string of building collapses in the Kampala Metropolitan Area that have killed and injured scores of people. Investigations often follow these incidents, but little action is taken.
Under the Building Control-Amendment Act, 2026, building without a valid permit attracts imprisonment of up to five years and payment of two currency points, equivalent to forty thousand shillings for each square metre of the built-up area. Authorities will likely take action once investigations into this latest incident are complete.
Key points
- The National Building Review Board found that the collapsed building had no permit, no approved drawings, and serious structural flaws.
- The building collapse killed one person and injured 25 others.
- Authorities are still investigating the incident and may take action under the Building Control-Amendment Act, 2026.
